KJV Only and Haters

Recently, I joined a group on Facebook because the title involved an aspect of Eschatology with which I agreed. For those who do not know, Eschatology is the study of End Times.

I was quite surprised to read some of the comments. There are people there who have concluded that John MacArthur is not saved. In fact, it quickly became apparent that these same people view those who do not share their view of the King James Version, as infidels, unsaved, and wolves in sheep’s clothing.

I’ve read the arguments pro and con regarding the KJV only. It is not my purpose here to lay those out. Frankly, I don’t care what a person believes about a translation of Scripture, except when it comes to what certainly appears to border on idolatry.

The amount of vitriol that these particular KJV only people can spew is downright amazing. They do so with ease and of course, that stems from the fact that they view people like myself as the enemy. I have lost track of how many different ways I was insulted and castigated.

The troubling part for me is not that people believe as they do. The more troubling part is that the group states nothing in their “what we’re about” section that would announce their views regarding the KJV of the Bible (what they call “The BOOK”). Had that been apparent, I never would have darkened the doorway to bother them. Instead, I came to the group to discuss aspects of End Times only to be met with vitriol, uncharitable attitudes, and a call to repent and be saved.

What people believe about the KJV is up to them. I do not believe that the KJV is actually inspired (“God-breathed”) as are the original autographs. I also know that there are people who disagree with me. That’s fine, but I find it interesting that the only way they can justify their ire toward me is to believe that I am somehow less than human; a false prophet, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or something else. This then allows them to treat me as if I am the enemy because in their eyes, I am the enemy. Because they view me as the enemy, it is easy to attack and to attack unmercifully because they believe that as an enemy, then they can spew their vitriolic tirades.

Because people like myself do not view the KJV as actually inspired, then those who do view me as attacking “The BOOK” and therefore God Himself. That’s a big jump, but they make it with ease. They see nothing wrong with the way they attack those who stand in opposition to their view and it is because of that, the line of demarcation exists.

In other words, because there are people who see the KJV as God-breathed, they operate from that frame of reference. Of necessity then, anyone who questions their view, or simply shares an opposing opinion is immediately seen as someone who should be rebuked, put down, and even ostracized.

Arguing about whether or not the KJV is valid is like debating any other aspect of theology, religion, or politics. The two sides never agree and simply wind up aggravating one another. It isn’t long before straw man arguments, ad hominem attacks and the like begins. The world laughs and rightly so. Debating these things is pointless simply because people entering into the debate already have their minds made up normally.

Having said that, I’m not open to debating the issue either. Yes, my mind has been made up and so has yours. There is no point to arguing about it.

There is no middle ground with folks who hold to the KJV only, and of course, there shouldn’t be, if they actually believe as they believe. The trouble is that in spite of the fact that much has been written about this issue, the two sides will never agree. That’s fine, but the tragic part is that for KJV only folks, it seems that they have placed themselves in the position of not even being able to agree to disagree. Instead, those who do not share their opinion are immediately cast off with harsh rebuke. They remind me of radical Muslims unfortunately, willing to go to the mat if necessary for the KJV. It’s as if God is not capable of defending Himself, so they feel they must defend the KJV as the radical Muslim defends Allah and the Qur’an.

Recently, in Europe, toilet paper was removed from the shelves because Muslims say they saw the word “Allah” in the design. The offending paper was immediately removed and replaced with something far more pedestrian. I’m sure that the manufacturer of the toilet paper intended to work the word “Allah” into the design. Even had they not, with the design appearing quite by coincidence, it reminds me of people who say they see the face of Jesus on a piece of toast, or a tree, or in the design of a sock.

Radical Muslims call me an infidel because I am not Muslim. I have now also been called an infidel by people who worship the KJV of the Bible. They would say they do not worship it, but simply revere it. I disagree. With the amount of vehemence, they are either worshiping it or simply protesting way too much.

5 Comments

1.JMCS | August 2, 2011 at 2:06 PM

I do not understand what is wrong with being Catholic. I was born Catholic. And I also got education from Catholic schools. Please tell me what you think.

As for the Bible, I say that no English version can be as accurate as the original texts. For example: the word “juvenile” (that was used to describe Absalom and the Amalekite soldiers) in English refers only to children whereas in Hebrew it can even mean a 30-year-old.

You were born into a family that practices Catholicism. Salvation – from a Christian perspective – is a situation that occurs when a person makes a purposeful decision to receive salvation as outlined in John 3. The problem with Catholicism is that there is a tremendous tendency to rely on tradition and the fact that you were born into a family that practices Catholicism.

Jesus chided the Pharisees and religious leaders because they believed they were “saved” solely because their father was Abraham, or that they were born Jewish. This means nothing.

My wife was born into and raised Catholic. It was not until she was in college that she realized that salvation is purely a gift of God and there is nothing anyone can do to earn it (Ephesians 2:8-10). I’m certainly not trying to castigate Catholicism. All I’m saying is that within that system, people come to depend upon things like the Rosary, or Absolution, etc., and do not realize that having salvation means having a DIRECT relationship with Jesus.

I agree with you 100% on the English versions. Every translation we have in English is simply that; a translation when all is said and done. The reason NEW translations are produced is some times due to the fact that older manuscripts are uncovered, providing greater meaning and insight into the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.

The King James Version is a translation, yet there are many people who believe that the King James Version is also inspired by God, just as the original manuscripts were (the ones actually written by the human authors). This is simply not true, but no amount of discussion will convince them otherwise. In essence then, they have become worshippers of the KJV because of their errant belief that it is fully inspired like the original autographs.

3.Ex-Catholic & Saved By Grace | July 31, 2011 at 11:51 AM

I always say that I am NOT a King James Only….but that I only read the KJV. :-)

Never really understood why people thought the KJV was to only version one could use, given the Bible originated in other ancient languages? Really appears to be an argument of tradition to me. I have come across such people many, many times who believe the KJV is somehow magical.

As to your further point, do you think there is a big difference between Radical Muslims and other Muslims?

It’s the same reason that people are nearly cultish over the very first notes of C. I. Scofield and believe that any that came after those first set of notes is not as “true” as the first set.

Regarding radical Muslims vs. “regular” Muslims, the only difference might be in the way the one group views the other. I believe there are Muslims who are non-confrontational and non-radical. That’s merely because they have allegorized the Qur’an. These Muslims are often killed by radical Muslims for not being as revolutionary and radical. As far as being able to determine who is and who is not a radical Muslim, I think it’s next to impossible unfortunately simply because of the games radical Muslims play.

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